’Get him off air’: Kyrgios ‘misogyny’ storm

Nick Kyrgios has doubled down amid backlash over a “disgusting” two-word slur about his ex-girlfriend, sharing two new cryptic posts.

Nick Kyrgios has refused to back down amid widespread backlash over a “disgusting” two-word slur about ex-girlfriend Anna Kalinskava.

The Aussie tennis star sparked outrage with his response to a social media user who shared an old photo of Kyrgios with his old flame at an NBA game together four years ago.

“Second serve,” Kyrgios replied.

While he hasn’t elaborated on the comment, which he has since deleted, it was widely interpreted to be a swipe at the Russian tennis star’s new partner Janik Sinner.

Kyrgios has been one of the most outspoken critics of Sinner in recent weeks after the Italian’s doping violation was made public last month.

Not one to back down, Kyrgios followed up with two more cryptic posts.

Seemingly in response to widespread claims of “misogyny”, he shared a collage of photos including a snap with his partner Costeen Hatzi and two pics of himself working alongside female ESPN commentators.

He then shared two short clips – one of him grinning and another of him celebrating – with a string of snooze emojis for the caption.

Many took it as him indicating he was “tired” of the criticism, which has come thick and fast.

Kyrgios is in hot water over this two-word reply to a social media user who shared an old photo of him with his ex-girlfriend Anna Kalinskava. Picture: X

Russian tennis star Kalinskava has found herself at the centre of an ugly storm. Kyrgios has been one of the loudest critics of her partner Jannik Sinner after the Italian

Kyrgios’ bitter public feud with Sinner

Sinner tested positive to an anabolic steroid in March, but the International Tennis Agency accepted his case that he did not willingly take the violating substance and he has not had to serve a suspension.

Kyrgios has publicly called for Sinner to face further punishment.

The situation is further clouded by Kyrgios’ dating history with Kalinskaya, who is now dating Sinner.

Kyrgios and Kalinskaya split in May, 2020.

She wrote on Instagram at the time that the pair were no longer friends.

Kalinskaya, the world No. 15 player on the WTA rankings, started dating Sinner earlier this year and has been seen in his box for his recent US Open matches.

Because of his outspoken criticism of Sinner, the Australian Open champ’s fans have been sending a barrage of negative comments to Kyrgios on Twitter and Instagram.

Doubling down: Kyrgios posted this cryptic post amid widespread backlash over his ‘misogynistic’ two-word slur. Picture: X

Star’s controversial history

The argument took a dirty turn with Kyrgios’ vulgar two-word statement.

Many fans have drawn a link between his comment and the infamous case of Kyrgios’ hurtful words about Donna Vekic when in the middle of a match against the Croatian starlet’s boyfriend Stanislas Wawrinka.

Kyrgios infamously said “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend” — referring to his doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Calls for ESPN to dump Kyrgios

The outrage towards Kyrgios has extended to his current employer ESPN where the former Wimbledon finalist has been providing expert commentary in America.

The TV network is being put under pressure to drop Kyrgios. There had already been calls for Kyrgios to be dropped from covering Sinner’s matches because of his outspoken criticism.

The biggest complaint, however, focused on the potentially vulgar nature of the comment about Kalinskaya.

High profile American tennis TV commentator Jon Wertheim wrote on X: “Nick Kyrgios once made a misogynistic, wildly inappropriate comment about a WTA player, drew the anger of her ATP player boyfriend, his coach, and much of the locker room…but didn’t face real consequence, dismissed, as it was, as youthful indiscretion. That was 2015. He’s 29 now”.

Leading tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg also wrote: “Honestly a bit surprised to see ESPN didn’t yank Nick Kyrgios off air mid-#USOpen final, seeing his most recent disparaging tweet about a WTA player circulating.

“Given his history of demeaning women, women’s tennis, and WTA players, it was already a dubious choice to have him.”

Kyrgios is dating Costeen Hatzi. She has not weighed into the saga. Picture: Mark Stewart

The divisive Aussie tennis star is under fire over his comment. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

One post from a Jannik Sinner fan account with 300,000 views on Twitter stated: “Disgusting, Kyrgios continues to show his true nature. Well done ESPN”.

One fan wrote: “ESPN, Kyrgios is a misogynist. His tennis career is over and he has no respect for the players or the game. Get rid of him”.

Another fan posted: “The squalor of this man is endless. You handed the microphone to a guy who has been disqualified primarily for unprofessional behaviour, verbal abuse, unsportsmanlike conduct, and obscene acts. Are you without scruples like him?”

Kyrgios did respond to further anger directed at him after his initial comment, but the context of his comment has not been confirmed.

When responding to a journalist on Twitter, Kyrgios wrote: “Right… so I’m the one that’s the bad guy for saying something about it.

“I never brought it up lol. Don’t take offence if people are gonna bring it up. Simple.”

Jannik Sinner is one game away from winning the US Open. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Another Twitter user responded to that comment by writing: “You truly don’t understand what abusive language and respect his towards another human being?”

Kyrgios defended himself by writing: “Abusive? What’s abusive about what I said? I had no intention to say anything about it. People wanna go there deal with the consequences.”

Weeks after Kyrgios’ break-up with Kalinskaya was made public in 2020, the Australian made several boasts about his sex life at the time.

Kyrgios admitted to sleeping with fans “on a weekly basis” while answering a range of fan questions during a Fortnite video gaming stream.

Kyrgios has been dating girlfriend Costeen Hatzi since 2021.

Hatzi has said the couple have discussed getting married many times.

“We love each other. (But) there’s no rush. It’ll happen when it happens,” she said.

Originally published as ’Get him off air’: Kyrgios ‘misogyny’ storm